Arrests of individuals on the terrorist watchlist at the northern U.S. border are reaching record highs, with federal agents apprehending 44 KSTs this fiscal year alone. This includes the arrest of Mohammad Hasan Abdellatif Albana, a Jordanian national with ties to terrorism, who was caught near Lynden, Washington.
Albana illegally entered the U.S. from Canada and was removed to Jordan on Nov. 15 after being flagged as a national security threat, according to ICE. His capture highlights the growing concern over the northern border’s vulnerabilities.
CBP data shows that since 2021, the northern border has accounted for 64% of all KST apprehensions in the U.S., with 1,216 individuals identified compared to 687 at the southern border. Despite these numbers, the northern border lacks the infrastructure and manpower of its southern counterpart, making it an attractive route for those seeking to evade capture.
Tom Homan, set to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar, criticized the lack of operational control along the northern border. “There are hundreds of miles of open border not being patrolled,” Homan said. “This is a national security vulnerability that cannot be ignored.”
The expansive U.S.-Canada border, spanning over 5,500 miles, poses unique challenges. Unlike the heavily monitored southern border, the northern border’s limited resources make it difficult to track and apprehend individuals crossing illegally between ports of entry.
Homan has vowed to prioritize border security under the Trump administration, pledging to address vulnerabilities at both the northern and southern borders.
